29 Bush Tomatoes to Grow at Home (Best Flavor and Yield!)
I have seen countless beginner home gardeners mistakenly believe that all cherry tomato plants are low-growing and bushy. But this isn’t entirely true. Some can grow to a towering 10 feet (3 m). So if you have little space to work with, familiarize yourself with these bush tomatoes—from grape to beefsteak tomatoes!
The best bush tomatoes to grow at home are
- Artic Rose
- Atlas Hybrid
- Baby Cakes
- Basket Vee
- Baxter’s Early Bush Cherry
- Betty
- BHN 589
- Black Sea Man
- Celebrity Supreme
- Chiquita
- Early Treat
- Elfin
- Garden Gem
- Glacier
- Gold Nuggets
- Grinch Dwarf
- Homestead
- Indigo Ruby
- Iron Lady
- Koralik
- Large Barred Boar
- Orange Panuche
- Pink Berkeley Tie-Dye
- Querida
- Red Candy
- Tasti-Lee
- Ten Fingers of Naples
- Viva Italia
- Zebra Cherry
I tried my best to make this list as complete as possible—with different shapes, sizes, colors, and flavors. Go through them all and find which ones speak to you so you can finally grow your own tomatoes at home!
1. Arctic Rose
The dwarf Arctic Rose variety is a bushy plant that produced sweet tomatoes in the middle of the growing season.
Plant Type: Determinate
Plant Height: 1.3–3.5 ft (40–106 cm)
Plant Width: 3 ft (90 cm)
Fruit Color: Pink, red
Although its skin may turn almost red when fully ripe, the sweet flesh of the Arctic Rose tomato is pretty pink. These 3–8 oz (85–226 g) fruits may either grow round or oblong.
Get your seeds here on Victory Seed Company.
2. Atlas Hybrid
Bushy Atlas Hybrid plants produce big beefsteak tomatoes prolifically with full sun and warm temperatures early in the season.
Plant Type: Semi-determinate
Plant Height: 2–3 ft (60–90 cm)
Plant Width: 2–3 ft (60–90 cm)
Fruit Color: Dark red, red
In search of tomatoes that have a perfect balance of tanginess and sweetness? Check if your Atlas Hybrid seeds are available in your area.
Low-growing plants of this variety can surprisingly produce lots of big and meaty tomatoes, averaging about 9–12 oz (255–340 g).
3. Baby Cakes
Red cherry tomatoes from bushy Baby Cakes plants develop abundantly early in the growing season.
Plant Type: Determinate
Plant Height: 1.5–4 ft (45–120 cm)
Plant Width: 1–2 ft (30–60 cm)
Fruit Color: Red
True to its name, the cute little fruits of Baby Cakes tomatoes are incredibly adorable and full-bodied.
What might surprise people about these 1–2.75 oz (28–77 g) cherry tomatoes, however, is their faint saltiness!
4. Basket Vee
The Basket Vee is a mid-season garden variety that grows into a compact bushy plant and develops big slicing red tomatoes.
Plant Type: Determinate
Plant Height: 2–4 ft (60–120 cm)
Plant Width: 1.65–2 ft (50–60 cm)
Fruit Color: Dark red, red
Now don’t let the term “garden” fool you. Like many plants, you can definitely grow a thriving Basket Vee tomato plant with the right materials and tools such as a full-spectrum grow light.
Basket Vee is a bush tomato that’s resistant to Verticillium and Fusarium Wilt.
It produces flavorful flattened globes of red tomatoes measuring about 8–9 oz (226–255 g).
5. Baxter’s Early Bush Cherry
Baxter’s Early Bush Cherry is a compact tomato plant that is high-yielding even when grown in small containers.
Plant Type: Determinate
Plant Height: 2.5–4 ft (76–120 cm)
Plant Width: 1.5–2 ft (45–60 cm)
Fruit Color: Red
This is a variety I would recommend if you’re a fan of no-fuss container gardening. Nevertheless, staking can help prevent this dense mid-season determinate plant from falling over due to prolific fruiting.
The tiny 1–2 oz (28–56 g) tomatoes of Baxter’s Early Bush Cherry plants are perfectly sweet and a little tart—perfect for snacking!
6. Betty
Huge juicy beefsteak tomatoes can grow from a bushy tomato plant variety like Betty.
Plant Type: Determinate
Plant Height: 3–5 ft (90–150 cm)
Plant Width: 2–3 ft (60–90 cm)
Fruit Color: Dark red, red
This specialty plant can grow humongous 16 oz (453 g) juicy and meaty fruits. Betty tomatoes are very sweet but also a bit tart—they’re richly flavored.
Even though it stays pretty compact, you can expect to have a substantial harvest of these tomatoes early or in the middle of the season.
7. BHN 589
The BHN 589 variety of bush tomatoes is commonly grown commercially for their great flavor and resistance to cracking.
Plant Type: Semi-determinate or determinate
Plant Height: 2–3 ft (60–90 cm)
Plant Width: 2–3 ft (60–90 cm)
Fruit Color: Red
Another commonly grown and sold tomato hybrid that was developed in the US is the BHN 589 which some consider determinate, while others categorize it as semi-determinate.
It produces big 7–10 oz (198–283 g) flattened globe tomatoes which don’t crack as easily as other tomatoes mid-season.
Like many commercial hybrid varieties, BHN 589 tomato plants are also very resistant to Fusarium and Verticillium wilt.
8. Black Sea Man
Large dark-colored round ribbed fruits can be harvested from Black Sea Man bush tomato plants in the middle of the growing season.
Plant Type: Determinate
Plant Height: 4–5 ft (120–150 cm)
Plant Width: 2–3 ft (60–90 cm)
Fruit Color: Black, dark red and black, brown and pink, dark olive green and brownish pink
Looking like a large black gem, you’ll surely be astonished by the fresh and flavorful taste of Black Sea Man tomatoes!
Each one of these gigantic 12–16 oz dark tomatoes has a complex flavor profile with hints of fruity tropical pineapples and other similar fruits.
Despite its heavy fruits, you can easily grow this variety in 5-gal containers, such as plastic pots and fabric grow bags.
Find out what is the best planter material for your garden!
9. Celebrity Supreme
Disease-resistant bushy plants of the Celebrity Supreme garden variety produce big flattened globular fruits mid-season.
Plant Type: Semi-determinate
Plant Height: 3–4 ft (90–120 cm)
Plant Width: 2–3 ft (60–90 cm)
Fruit Color: Dark red, red
Closely related to Celebrity tomatoes, the compact Celebrity Supreme variety also produces bright red globular fruits on its densely packed vines.
However, hybrid Celebrity Supreme fruits are larger—weighing about 8–12 oz (226–340 g). They are also much less likely to crack than regular Celebrity tomatoes.
Like other hybrid tomatoes, this garden variety is highly resistant to Alternaria, Fusarium wilt, mosaic virus, root-knot nematode, Stemphylium leaf spot, and Verticillium wilt.
10. Chiquita
An early season producer, Chiquita bush tomato plants produce lots of small pink cherry tomatoes.
Plant Type: Determinate
Plant Height: 3–4 ft (90–120 cm)
Plant Width: 2–3 ft (60–90 cm)
Fruit Color: Dark pink, pink
If you’re looking for cute little tomatoes with a perfectly balanced sweet-and-tangy flavor profile, get yourself some Chiquita tomato seeds.
With proper care, you can yield a lot of 0.45–0.55 oz (12–15 g) cherry tomatoes from this compact plant early in the growing season.
Because of their small size and fruits, they’re a great option for indoor home gardeners. Also, this hybrid variety is unlikely to develop Fusarium wilt.
Discover which tomato variety can grow on a windowsill!
11. Early Treat
Early Treat is a semi-determinate bush tomato variety that grows small to medium round fruits.
Plant Type: Semi-determinate
Plant Height: 3–4 ft (90–120 cm)
Plant Width: 2–3 ft (60–90 cm)
Fruit Color: Dark red, red
Plants of this high-yielding garden variety can produce lots of crisp and sharp-flavored 3–4 oz (85–113 g) vibrant red fruits early in the season or by the middle of it.
Due to its notable acidity, it’s great for making salsas. But it’s also great for making sauces as long as you know your way with spices and herbs!
12. Elfin
Clusters of grape-like fruits grow on the bushy vines of compact Elfin tomato plants in abundance.
Plant Type: Determinate
Plant Height: 3–4 ft (90–120 cm)
Plant Width: 2–3 ft (60–90 cm)
Fruit Color: Dark red, red, red-orange
Even though Elfin grape tomatoes only grow to about 0.25–0.5 oz (7–14 g) per fruit, each one is packed with sweetness when fully ripe. They’re perfect for snacking and salads.
You will likely notice plants of this specialty tomato variety start setting fruit quite early in the season. So you won’t have to wait long before you’re able to enjoy the fruits of your labor!
13. Garden Gem
Semi-determinate Garden Gem tomatoes grow into bushy plants that produce small plum-shaped fruits prolifically.
Plant Type: Semi-determinate
Plant Height: 2.5–4 ft (76–120 cm)
Plant Width: 1–2.5 ft (30–76 cm)
Fruit Color: Red, red-orange
As it was developed at the University of Florida, this garden hybrid grows best in warmer regions. More specifically, Garden Gem tomato plants thrive in zones 10 and 11.
In such areas, they can continuously set flowers and produce 2–3 oz (56–85 g) firm but juicy fruits—with a rich tomato taste—from the early to the late months of the growing season.
When grown anywhere else, they’re annuals. Either way, it’s best to provide them with some support so that they don’t topple over from heavy fruiting.
14. Glacier
A Glacier bush tomato can develop sweet red fruits very early in the season as they can tolerate cold weather fairly well.
Plant Type: Semi-determinate
Plant Height: 2.5–5 ft (76–150 cm)
Plant Width: 1.65–3.5 ft (50–106 cm)
Fruit Color: Dark red, red, red-orange
Contrary to the previous variety in the list, this specialty tomato fares greatly with cool temperatures.
As its name suggests, a compact Glacier tomato plant won’t be having a problem producing very sweet and tasty 1–3 oz (28–85 g) round fruits even when it still isn’t warm yet.
15. Gold Nugget
Yellow-orange cherry-like fruits of Gold Nuggets bush tomato plants start growing on compact vines very early in the year.
Plant Type: Determinate
Plant Height: 3–5 ft (90–150 cm)
Plant Width: 2–3 ft (60–90 cm)
Fruit Color: Orange, yellow-orange, yellow
The dazzling golden was first produced by Oregon State University’s Dr. James Baggett. It is a drought-tolerant and heat-resistant garden variety of compact cherry tomato plants.
Weighing up to 0.55–1 oz (15–28 g), the almost seedless fruits of the American Golden Nugget garden variety taste well-balanced—with a notable sweetness that isn’t too intense.
16. Grinch Dwarf
Small to very large green fruits of varying shapes can be grown on Grinch Dwarf bush tomato plants early or in the middle of the season.
Plant Type: Determinate
Plant Height: 3–4 ft (90–120 cm)
Plant Width: 2–3 ft (60–90 cm)
Fruit Color: Green, yellow-green
Among the other bush tomatoes in the list, I find Grinch Dwarfs to be particularly interesting. You see, depending on its size, the shape of its fruits can change drastically.
Tiny 0.75 oz (21 g) fruits are somewhat pear-like, medium 4 oz (113 g) ones are more round, whereas massive 16 oz (453 g) Grinch Dwarf tomatoes are considered beefsteaks.
Regardless, the ripe green fruits from this dwarf garden variety are delightfully sweet with a slight kick of tanginess. Brighten up rich dishes like stews and soups with this bush tomato!
17. Homestead
A 1950s American heirloom variety, Homestead tomatoes are late-season bushy plants that form big fruits and dense narrow leaves.
Plant Type: Semi-determinate
Plant Height: 3–5 ft (90–150 cm)
Plant Width: 2–3 ft (60–90 cm)
Fruit Color: Dark red, red
Like Garden Gem, this is a variety that originates from the USA. But it was specifically developed for those in Florida, so it’s pretty tolerant of heat.
It yields firm and meaty flavorful tomatoes that are around 8–9 oz (226–255 g). These deep-colored fruits are rich and sweet, with a bit of tartness as well.
Just keep in mind that Homestead tomatoes can quickly grow past 6 ft (approx. 182 cm) when planted directly in the ground outdoors in vegetable gardens. For more manageable compact plants, keep them in containers instead.
18. Indigo Ruby
Compact Indigo Ruby plants produced dual-toned grape tomatoes on their bushy vines late in the growing season.
Plant Type: Determinate
Plant Height: 3–5 ft (90–150 cm)
Plant Width: 1.5–3 ft (45–90 cm)
Fruit Color: Black and red, violet and red, dark violet and red-orange
Starting off almost completely black with shades of green, these oblong fruits turn into a mix of red and purplish-black once ripe and about 1–2 oz (28–56 g) in size.
They’re like a darker but smaller plum tomato. Add Indigo Ruby tomatoes fresh to your salads and sandwiches or your pasta recipes if you want more color and flavor.
19. Iron Lady
The Iron Lady is a compact plant that has a bushy habit, which produces large numbers of blight-resistant round red tomatoes mid-season.
Plant Type: Determinate
Plant Height: 3–5 ft (90–150 cm)
Plant Width: 1–3 ft (30–90 cm)
Fruit Color: Red, red-orange
This hybrid was produced by brilliant minds from both Cornell University and North Carolina State University.
Hefty 4–6 oz (113–170 g) Iron Lady tomatoes were specifically bred to be resistant to both early and late tomato blight which could otherwise lead to rotting fruits in warm, humid areas.
Other than that, this commercially available bush variety has great texture and flavor.
20. Koralik
Originating from Russia, Koralik bush tomato plants are an heirloom variety that yields a high amount of small cherry tomatoes.
Plant Type: Determinate
Plant Height: 2.5–4 ft (76–120 cm)
Plant Width: 1–2 ft (30–60 cm)
Fruit Color: Dark red, red, red-orange
Clusters of little 0.25–0.75 oz (12–21 g) Koralik fruits are ready for harvest very early on in the growing season.
But don’t worry! Each cluster has 6–8 of these sweet red cherry tomatoes which ripen around the same time for easier picking in your garden.
21. Large Barred Boar
Slightly flat and ribbed bi-colored fruits of Large Barred Boar bush tomato plants are generally harvested in the middle of the growing season.
Plant Type: Semi-determinate
Plant Height: 3–5 ft (90–150 cm)
Plant Width: 1.5–2 ft (45–60 cm)
Fruit Color: Red and dark green, red-orange and green, brownish-pink and green
For the most part, medium-sized Large Barred Boar tomatoes weighing about 7.25 oz (205 g) are relatively flat and globular in shape. But their bigger 12 oz (340 g) resemble beefsteaks.
Regardless, the streaked fruits of this garden tomato variety are very fleshy and flavorful. They are the perfect blend of sweet and tangy!
22. Orange Panuche
Bushy Orange Panuche tomato plants vigorously produce brilliant orange cherry-like fruits early in the growing season.
Plant Type: Semi-determinate
Plant Height: 4–5 ft (120–150 cm)
Plant Width: 2–2.5 ft (60–76 cm)
Fruit Color: Dark orange, orange
In all honesty, the rich orange color of this bush variety’s dainty 1 oz (g) fruits initially reminded me of egg yolk.
So imagine my surprise after getting a taste of these insanely sweet thin-skinned cherry tomatoes!
Even better? This early-season hybrid tomato is resistant to developing Fusarium wilt and mosaic virus. Moreover, this fast-grower will continuously grow fruits for most of the season.
23. Pink Berkeley Tie-Dye
Striped Pink Berkley Tie-Dye fruits can grow very big mid-season when properly given adequate support for bushy vines with numerous tomatoes.
Plant Type: Semi-determinate
Plant Height: 4–5 ft (120–150 cm)
Plant Width: 2–3 ft (60–90 cm)
Fruit Color: Purple and dark green, reddish-purple and green, dark pink and green
Nice and juicy striped fruits of compact Pink Berkeley Tie-Dye plants are one of the most complex-tasting tomatoes I have ever had.
These 8–12 oz (226–340 g) flattened tomatoes are very earthy whilst being sweet, tangy, and tomatoey.
Check out other purple tomato varieties!
24. Querida
The little-known bush tomato variety named Querida produces large beefsteak fruits with a well-balanced flavor profile mid-season.
Plant Type: Determinate
Plant Height: 4–5 ft (120–150 cm)
Plant Width: 1.5–3 ft (45–90 cm)
Fruit Color: Dark red and green, red and dark green
This variety has quite a conflicting name—querida means sweetheart in Spanish while kerida is mistress in Filipino.
But the fruits from this hybrid variety are very pleasant in terms of taste and color, so I think this was named with the former meaning in mind.
Querida beefsteak tomatoes are big (7–12 oz or 198–340 g) and versatile. Use them for slicing, canning, and cooking.
25. Red Candy
Grow Red Candy bush tomato plants for a bountiful harvest of extra sweet grape-shaped fruits early in the season.
Plant Type: Semi-determinate
Plant Height: 2–5 ft (60–150 cm)
Plant Width: 2–3 ft (60–90 cm)
Fruit Color: Dark red, red
Fruits of specialty Red Candy tomato plants are truly sugar-sweet. Introduce them to your kids as a healthy but tasty snack.
These bright red grape tomatoes only grow to about 0.5–1 oz (14–28 g) each so you don’t really need to prepare them all that much. Just pop them into your mouth—after you wash them, of course!
26. Tasti-Lee
Developed at the University of Florida, Tasti-Lee is a mid-season bush tomato variety that produces medium to large globular fruits.
Plant Type: Semi-determinate
Plant Height: 3–4 ft (90–120 cm)
Plant Width: 2–3 ft (60–90 cm)
Fruit Color: Dark red, red
Now, if you’re a tomato lover, I can pretty much guarantee that you’ll fall in love with this compact American hybrid.
Better than regular tomatoes, 6–9 oz (170–255 g) Tasti-Lee tomatoes not only have a strong tomato flavor, but they are also quite high in sugar!
Furthermore, this scrumptious commercial tomato is also highly resistant to developing Fusarium and Verticillium wilt.
27. Ten Fingers of Naples
Elongated plum tomatoes develop in abundance from bushy Ten Fingers of Naples plants by the middle of the growing season.
Plant Type: Determinate
Plant Height: 3–5 ft (90–150 cm)
Plant Width: 2–3 ft (60–90 cm)
Fruit Color: Dark red, red, red-orange
As you might have guessed, this variety of compact tomato plants is Native to Naples Italy.
These relatively small 3–4.5 oz (85–127 g) plum tomatoes are big in flavor—undeniably rich, sweet, and mildly tart.
Use your Ten Fingers of Naples tomatoes to create your very own pizza and pasta sauce recipes!
28. Viva Italia
As a mid-season Roma-type tomato, Viva Italia bush plants grow small sugar-rich fruits that are ideal for cooking.
Plant Type: Determinate
Plant Height: 2–5 ft (60–150 cm)
Plant Width: 1.5–3 ft (45–90 cm)
Fruit Color: Dark red, red
Similar to the previous one, this plum-shaped hybrid variety also originates from Italy. It’s thick and meaty, perfect for making homemade pastes and ketchup.
Viva Italia tomatoes weigh only about 3–4 oz (85–113 g). However, this solid paste tomato has a terrific flavor.
Besides that, it’s resistant to many plant diseases like root-knot nematode and it’s also very heat-tolerant.
29. Zebra Cherry
Narrow-leaved Zebra Cherry plants grow bi-colored fruits on their bushy vines for mid-season substantial yield.
Plant Type: Determinate
Plant Height: 3–5 ft (90–150 cm)
Plant Width: 1.5–2.5 ft (45–76 cm)
Fruit Color: Red and dark green, reddish-purple and green
Zebra Cherry tomatoes only come up to about 3–4 oz (85–113 g) per fruit. Don’t underestimate their flavor, though. Each fruit is juicy and sweet despite its size!
It’s one of the most eye-catching hybrid varieties among all cherry tomatoes available to the market due to its striking colors and patterns.
Since Zebra Cherry plants stay quite compact, they’re also easy to grow in small containers indoors!
FAQs
What are bush or determinate tomatoes?
Bush tomatoes simply refer to tomato cultivars and varieties that grow relatively short—more or less up to 3–4 ft (90–120 cm), though some can reach heights of 5 ft (150 cm). Numerous determinate and indeterminate varieties fall under this category. Most of the time, however, people simply refer to determinate tomatoes as bush tomatoes.
Are cherry tomatoes determinate?
Not all cherry tomatoes are determinate plants. Although a good number of them stay compact—especially when grown in small containers indoors—there are also a variety of indeterminate cherry tomatoes. Such varieties can grow over 6–10 feet (1.83–3.05 m) with ideal growing conditions.
Is the Roma tomato a bush tomato variety?
The Italian Roma tomato variety is also a bush variety tomato. The red plum-shaped fruits of this tomato plant are typically used to make pastes due to their thick flesh and very few seeds. It is a compact and low-growing plant with sturdy vines, often only growing up to 2–4 ft (60–90 cm) tall.
Summary of Bush Tomatoes to Grow at Home
Most bush tomatoes are determinate varieties, but there are also compact semi-determinate ones. These generally only grow to 3–5 ft. (90–150 cm) but develop fruits of various colors, sizes, and shapes—from grapes and cherries to globes and beefsteaks.
The best bush tomatoes are Artic Rose, Atlas Hybrid, Baby Cakes, Basket Vee, Baxter’s Early Bush Cherry, Betty, BHN 589, Black Sea Man, Celebrity Supreme, Chiquita, Early Treat, Elfin, Garden Gem, Glacier, and Gold Nugget.
Grinch Dwarf, Homestead, Indigo Ruby, Iron Lady, Koralik, Large Barred Boar, Orange Panuche, Pink Berkeley Tie-Dye, Querida, Red Candy, Tasti-Lee, Ten Fingers of Naples, Viva Italia, and Zebra Cherry are also great bush tomato varieties.
Sources
- “Tomato Varieties” by n/a in Rutgers Cooperative Extension
- “2019 Plant Sale—Tomato Plant List” by n/a in Whatcom County Master Gardener
- “High Tunnel Fresh Market Slicer Tomato Variety Trial 2011” by Steve Bogash in the Pennsylvania State University
- “Globe Tomatoes” by n/a in the Washington State University
- “Tomatoes” by n/a in Hepworth Farms
- “Tomato Selection Guide” by n/a in RCW Nurseries, Inc.
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